Nick Feldman
Encyclopedia
Nick Feldman is an English
musician, who is best known for forming the popular 1980s British
new wave
band, Wang Chung
. In addition to forming Wang Chung, Feldman also was a member of the duo, Promised Land, which featured Jon Moss
from Culture Club
, was a founding investor in Interactive Ideas Ltd and has worked in A and R for Warner Brothers, Sony Music and SonyBMG.
, and originally studied psychology
. However, his interest in the academic study of the human mind soon died before he could graduate. He left the university, and joined DJM Live Music Agency, bringing in Adam and the Ants who were to become the biggest band in the UK in the early 80's. However, before and during his couple of years at The University of Liverpool, he was already involved in bands. He left DJM to follow his vocation as a musician and decided to form a band . He has a younger brother named Steven, and a sister named Alexandra, who is a logo business designer. She designed the album art for Huang Chung
.
. Jeremy Ryder, known professionally as "Jack Hues" (vocalist/guitarist) and Nick Feldman (bassist) would eventually form the core duo of Wang Chung. They first met when Hues answered Feldman's ad for musicians in the classifieds section of the weekly British music magazine Melody Maker in 1977. Mike Berry,an American bassist and songwriter also answered the ad, beating 70 other bassists to be offered the job. Mike Smith, a keyboard playing friend of Nick's and Paul Hammond
, a drummer were already members of the band. Keyboard player, Mike Smith also wrote songs. He soon left after being signed as a songwriter by Chinn and Chapman. Paul Hammond was the drummer at the time of the auditions. He had already enjoyed some success in the 70s band, Atomic Rooster
. His 'audition technique' was to keep speeding up the tempo as he played to try and catch the bass player out. Mike Berry played bass so fast that Paul gave up, smiled and said 'you're a maniac!' Mike Berry was in. It was Paul Hammond who coined the name Jack Hues.
[2] Mike B tells the story:
'Jeremy/Jez had a song called,'J'accuse'.The opening line was,"I J'accuse!' Paul hated the song,One day when Jeremy/Jez was gone to the toilet Paul got a wicked gleam in his eye and asked,'where's Jack?'we said who? He said,'you know,Jack Hughs.'That is how that name got started.It was Paul taking the rise out of Jez' song.' recalls he him self left the band after a year and a half because Nick Feldman refused to loan him the money to replace a faulty bass speaker cabinet,despite being offered an airline ticket to the usa as security on the loan.As a result of this dispute, Mike refused to play a gig supporting The Tourists[Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart] was canceled and Mike Berry quit the band.Both Nick and Jack,as he was now called,pleaded with him not to go,but he left the band. 6 months later,while working as a door person at a night club in Boston,Massachusetts,mike heard familiar voices and looked up at the video screen.there were Wang Chung,singing 'Dancehall Days! Mike still kicks himself for the decision to go.He still has demo tapes recorded at Easy Street studios as part of this original line-up.the songs include 'J'accuse.'
Soon after Mike left.[3] Marek Budzynski (Bud Weiser) was taken on as bassist to form next incarnation of The Intellektuals.
In less than a year, that band split up. Hues and Feldman then joined up with future Wang Chung drummer Darren Costin, bassist Leigh Gorman, keyboardist Simon Campbell and vocalist Glenn Gregory, to form 57 Men. This band lasted for about 18 months before breaking up.
Gregory went on to become the vocalist for Heaven 17, and Gorman later played in Adam and the Ants and then Bow Wow Wow. Meanwhile Hues, Feldman and Costin stayed together and rechristened themselves Huang Chung. Campbell went back to the day job. [4]Mike Berry moved to Devon and played in rock bands and solo.He later formed folk trio,MY Earthly Twin with John Austin on mandolin and Steve Potter on fiddle.They played the Southwest of England for 3 years. He still writes songs.he can be contacted on mike_h_berry@hotmail.com One of the people who answered the ad was future Wang Chung singer, Jack Hues
. With the rising punk music movement around England in the late 1970s, the two formed together as 'The Intellektuals' in mid-1977. Two years later, Feldman & Hues formed the band, '57 Men'. While in 57 Men, the two met up with future Wang Chung drummer, Darren Costin
. Just like their first band together, Feldman & Hues broke up within eighteen months, but took along Costin.
In late 1979, the threesome officially became referred to as Huang Chung
. During his time with Huang Chung, Feldman was known professionally as Nick De Spig.
Huang Chung released two singles in 1980 for the independent music company, Rewind Records. In May 1981, Huang Chung signed to Arista Records
for a two album deal. The next year, the band released their self-titled debut album
.
In 1982, still as Nick De Spig, Feldman co-write one track on the album Walls Have Ears by Blanket of Secrecy
.
By 1983, Huang Chung's name was changed to Wang Chung, and Feldman reverted to using his real name professionally.
Wang Chung signed to Geffen Records in the US. They wanted to change their name from Huang Chung to something more understandable but David Geffen insisted they keep their name but just change the spelling.
Wang Chung went on to achieve huge success in the US and the rest of the world throughout the 80's on Geffen. After the summer tour for their 1st Geffen album, Points on the Curve in 1984, Costin left the band to pursue a solo career. Despite not having a full-time drummer, Wang Chung continued to thrive, achieving numerous hit singles including 'Dance Hall Days' and 'Everybody Have Fun Tonight', which reached #2 on the Billboard chart, and 4 Gold and Platinum albums, as well as extensively touring the world throughout this period.
Nick co-wrote and co produced for Wang Chung, who also branched out into Hollywood soundtrack work, scoring the William Friedkin movie 'To Live and Die in LA' as well as writing and performing for John Hughes' 'The Breakfast Club' and Steven Spielberg's 'Inner Space'
, for Epic Records, US. Within 2 years, the band had broke up and Nick then became a founding investor in a multimedia software distribution company, Interactive Ideas Ltd, now a thriving multi million pound business.
After scoring for various film and tv projects, Feldman followed his other ambition to work on the other side of the music business. He took up the position as the A&R manager for Warner Music UK Limited, working with many successful acts including Suggs of Madness, with whom he wrote the lead track for Hollywood Avengers movie, and Black Star Liner, Mercury Music Award nominees in 1999 amongst many others.
Whilst still working for Warner brothers, in 1997, he and Jack Hues briefly reunited, to mark the release of their first Greatest Hits album on Geffen records. They recorded a brand new track, Space Junk, as a bonus track for the album. It has recently been used in the hit US TV show, 2010's Walking Dead, directed by Frank Darabont (Shawshank Rebellion/ Green Mile).
Nick continued to work at Warners until 2001 when he was headhunted to work as the Head of A and R for Sony Europe, where he stayed for 5 years, working on and coordinating many of their huge artists. He also signed some acts including Bullet For My Valentine who quickly achieved huge success worldwide.
In 2005, Wang Chung appeared on Hit Me Baby One More Time
on primetime US TV (ABC). They performed their most popular song, "Everybody Have Fun Tonight
", along with "Hot in Herre
" by Nelly
. The reaction the fans gave the band was enough inspiration to resuscitate Wang Chung, and work on a new album, which Nick managed to fit in whilst still working at Sony. Eventually he left Sony to concentrate on finishing the Wang Chung album and to expand into artist management, signing new band Little Fish to Linda Perry's Universal US label, Custard.
Since then, Wang Chung has toured the US four times, from June 2009 to September 2010 and are planning to release their album, Abducted by the 80's later this year, when they will tour again.
Earlier in 2010, Nick also invested in a new company MagNet, an e-commerce solution that is starting to spectacularly expand and he has been asked to run the music division of a sister company to Magnet, called Awaken, which is expected to launch 2011
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
musician, who is best known for forming the popular 1980s British
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
new wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
band, Wang Chung
Wang Chung (band)
Wang Chung are an English New Wave musical group.The group found their greatest success in America, with five Top 40 hits in the US, all charting between 1983 and 1987, including "Dance Hall Days" , "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" and "Let's Go!" .-Pre-history: The Intellektuals and 57 Men :Jeremy...
. In addition to forming Wang Chung, Feldman also was a member of the duo, Promised Land, which featured Jon Moss
Jon Moss
Jon Moss is an English drummer best known as a member of the 1980s pop group Culture Club. He has also played with other bands, including London, The Nips and The Damned.-Early life:...
from Culture Club
Culture Club
Culture Club are a British rock band who were part of the 1980s New Romantic movement. The original band consisted of Boy George , Mikey Craig , Roy Hay and Jon Moss...
, was a founding investor in Interactive Ideas Ltd and has worked in A and R for Warner Brothers, Sony Music and SonyBMG.
Biography
Feldman was born in North London, England on May 1, 1955. He attended the University of LiverpoolUniversity of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
, and originally studied psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
. However, his interest in the academic study of the human mind soon died before he could graduate. He left the university, and joined DJM Live Music Agency, bringing in Adam and the Ants who were to become the biggest band in the UK in the early 80's. However, before and during his couple of years at The University of Liverpool, he was already involved in bands. He left DJM to follow his vocation as a musician and decided to form a band . He has a younger brother named Steven, and a sister named Alexandra, who is a logo business designer. She designed the album art for Huang Chung
Huang Chung (album)
- Arista U.S. LP: AL 6603 :- 1995 - One Way Records CD: OW 31444 :-Credits:Producers:* Tracks 1,2,4,5,10 - Produced by Rhett Davies;* Tracks 6,8,9 - Produced by Roger Bechirian;* Tracks 3 & 7 - Produced by Rhett Davies and Remixed by Roger Bechirian...
.
Wang Chung era (1977-1991)
During the time that Feldman was in the hunt for a band, he put up a help wanted ad in the weekly British music magazine, Melody MakerMelody Maker
Melody Maker, published in the United Kingdom, was, according to its publisher IPC Media, the world's oldest weekly music newspaper. It was founded in 1926 as a magazine targeted at musicians; in 2000 it was merged into "long-standing rival" New Musical Express.-1950s–1960s:Originally the Melody...
. Jeremy Ryder, known professionally as "Jack Hues" (vocalist/guitarist) and Nick Feldman (bassist) would eventually form the core duo of Wang Chung. They first met when Hues answered Feldman's ad for musicians in the classifieds section of the weekly British music magazine Melody Maker in 1977. Mike Berry,an American bassist and songwriter also answered the ad, beating 70 other bassists to be offered the job. Mike Smith, a keyboard playing friend of Nick's and Paul Hammond
Paul Hammond (musician)
Paul Hammond was an English rock drummer, best known for his time with the progressive rock band Atomic Rooster.-Career:Born in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, Hammond began playing drums aged 12, and joined his first band, The Farm, after winning a competition in the Melody Maker music newspaper...
, a drummer were already members of the band. Keyboard player, Mike Smith also wrote songs. He soon left after being signed as a songwriter by Chinn and Chapman. Paul Hammond was the drummer at the time of the auditions. He had already enjoyed some success in the 70s band, Atomic Rooster
Atomic Rooster
Atomic Rooster were an English progressive rock band, composed of former members of the The Crazy World of Arthur Brown. Throughout their history, keyboardist Vincent Crane was the only constant member, and wrote the majority of their material. Their history is defined by two periods, in the early...
. His 'audition technique' was to keep speeding up the tempo as he played to try and catch the bass player out. Mike Berry played bass so fast that Paul gave up, smiled and said 'you're a maniac!' Mike Berry was in. It was Paul Hammond who coined the name Jack Hues.
[2] Mike B tells the story:
'Jeremy/Jez had a song called,'J'accuse'.The opening line was,"I J'accuse!' Paul hated the song,One day when Jeremy/Jez was gone to the toilet Paul got a wicked gleam in his eye and asked,'where's Jack?'we said who? He said,'you know,Jack Hughs.'That is how that name got started.It was Paul taking the rise out of Jez' song.'
Soon after Mike left.[3] Marek Budzynski (Bud Weiser) was taken on as bassist to form next incarnation of The Intellektuals.
In less than a year, that band split up. Hues and Feldman then joined up with future Wang Chung drummer Darren Costin, bassist Leigh Gorman, keyboardist Simon Campbell and vocalist Glenn Gregory, to form 57 Men. This band lasted for about 18 months before breaking up.
Gregory went on to become the vocalist for Heaven 17, and Gorman later played in Adam and the Ants and then Bow Wow Wow. Meanwhile Hues, Feldman and Costin stayed together and rechristened themselves Huang Chung. Campbell went back to the day job. [4]Mike Berry moved to Devon and played in rock bands and solo.He later formed folk trio,MY Earthly Twin with John Austin on mandolin and Steve Potter on fiddle.They played the Southwest of England for 3 years. He still writes songs.he can be contacted on mike_h_berry@hotmail.com One of the people who answered the ad was future Wang Chung singer, Jack Hues
Jack Hues
Jack Hues is an English musician, who is best known for forming the 1980s British new wave band, Wang Chung...
. With the rising punk music movement around England in the late 1970s, the two formed together as 'The Intellektuals' in mid-1977. Two years later, Feldman & Hues formed the band, '57 Men'. While in 57 Men, the two met up with future Wang Chung drummer, Darren Costin
Darren Costin
Darren Costin is the former drummer for the band Wang Chung. Costin first appeared on the group's debut album, Huang Chung. When drumming, Costin used a Simmons electronic drums. Costin then left the band in 1985 after Wang Chung's summer tour, in order to pursue a solo career.Costin founded the...
. Just like their first band together, Feldman & Hues broke up within eighteen months, but took along Costin.
In late 1979, the threesome officially became referred to as Huang Chung
Wang Chung (band)
Wang Chung are an English New Wave musical group.The group found their greatest success in America, with five Top 40 hits in the US, all charting between 1983 and 1987, including "Dance Hall Days" , "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" and "Let's Go!" .-Pre-history: The Intellektuals and 57 Men :Jeremy...
. During his time with Huang Chung, Feldman was known professionally as Nick De Spig.
Huang Chung released two singles in 1980 for the independent music company, Rewind Records. In May 1981, Huang Chung signed to Arista Records
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
for a two album deal. The next year, the band released their self-titled debut album
Huang Chung (album)
- Arista U.S. LP: AL 6603 :- 1995 - One Way Records CD: OW 31444 :-Credits:Producers:* Tracks 1,2,4,5,10 - Produced by Rhett Davies;* Tracks 6,8,9 - Produced by Roger Bechirian;* Tracks 3 & 7 - Produced by Rhett Davies and Remixed by Roger Bechirian...
.
In 1982, still as Nick De Spig, Feldman co-write one track on the album Walls Have Ears by Blanket of Secrecy
Blanket of Secrecy
Blanket of Secrecy was a British New Wave trio that existed for a short time in the early 1980s. The band is notable for the fact that the band members, true to their band name, were never officially identified, using only the pseudonyms Tinker, Tailor and Soldier...
.
By 1983, Huang Chung's name was changed to Wang Chung, and Feldman reverted to using his real name professionally.
Wang Chung signed to Geffen Records in the US. They wanted to change their name from Huang Chung to something more understandable but David Geffen insisted they keep their name but just change the spelling.
Wang Chung went on to achieve huge success in the US and the rest of the world throughout the 80's on Geffen. After the summer tour for their 1st Geffen album, Points on the Curve in 1984, Costin left the band to pursue a solo career. Despite not having a full-time drummer, Wang Chung continued to thrive, achieving numerous hit singles including 'Dance Hall Days' and 'Everybody Have Fun Tonight', which reached #2 on the Billboard chart, and 4 Gold and Platinum albums, as well as extensively touring the world throughout this period.
Nick co-wrote and co produced for Wang Chung, who also branched out into Hollywood soundtrack work, scoring the William Friedkin movie 'To Live and Die in LA' as well as writing and performing for John Hughes' 'The Breakfast Club' and Steven Spielberg's 'Inner Space'
Post-Wang Chung era (1991-present)
By early 1990 the band quietly broke up. Shortly after the breakup, Feldman joined with Jon Moss of Culture Club to form Promised Land. They anonymously released a single, a club cover version of Thunderclap Newman's Something in the Air", which became one of the dance anthems of that summer, gaining rave reviews, and NME single of the week on its release. It was eventually signed by Pete Tong's ffrr label. They then recorded their self-titled debut albumPromised Land (Promised Land album)
Promised Land is the self-titled project album, released by Wang Chung guitarist Nick Feldman, and Culture Club drummer Jon Moss, on Epic Records, later Sony Records....
, for Epic Records, US. Within 2 years, the band had broke up and Nick then became a founding investor in a multimedia software distribution company, Interactive Ideas Ltd, now a thriving multi million pound business.
After scoring for various film and tv projects, Feldman followed his other ambition to work on the other side of the music business. He took up the position as the A&R manager for Warner Music UK Limited, working with many successful acts including Suggs of Madness, with whom he wrote the lead track for Hollywood Avengers movie, and Black Star Liner, Mercury Music Award nominees in 1999 amongst many others.
Whilst still working for Warner brothers, in 1997, he and Jack Hues briefly reunited, to mark the release of their first Greatest Hits album on Geffen records. They recorded a brand new track, Space Junk, as a bonus track for the album. It has recently been used in the hit US TV show, 2010's Walking Dead, directed by Frank Darabont (Shawshank Rebellion/ Green Mile).
Nick continued to work at Warners until 2001 when he was headhunted to work as the Head of A and R for Sony Europe, where he stayed for 5 years, working on and coordinating many of their huge artists. He also signed some acts including Bullet For My Valentine who quickly achieved huge success worldwide.
In 2005, Wang Chung appeared on Hit Me Baby One More Time
Hit Me Baby One More Time
Hit Me, Baby, One More Time was a 2005 reality show first aired by ITV on British television and later, as a new version, by NBC in the United States; both were presented by Vernon Kay. During each programme, five former pop stars sing their biggest hit along with a cover version of a contemporary...
on primetime US TV (ABC). They performed their most popular song, "Everybody Have Fun Tonight
Everybody Have Fun Tonight
"Everybody Have Fun Tonight" is a song by Wang Chung from their album Mosaic. It was released as a single in 1986, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart....
", along with "Hot in Herre
Hot in Herre
"Hot in Herre" is a popular song and single performed by the hip-hop artist Nelly, and was released in 2002 as the first single on his album Nellyville. The song's producers were The Neptunes...
" by Nelly
Nelly
Cornell Iral Haynes, Jr. , better known by his stage name Nelly, is an Grammy Award winning American rapper and actor. He has performed with the rap group St. Lunatics since 1993 and signed to Universal Records in 1999. Under Universal, Nelly began his solo career in 2000 with his debut album...
. The reaction the fans gave the band was enough inspiration to resuscitate Wang Chung, and work on a new album, which Nick managed to fit in whilst still working at Sony. Eventually he left Sony to concentrate on finishing the Wang Chung album and to expand into artist management, signing new band Little Fish to Linda Perry's Universal US label, Custard.
Since then, Wang Chung has toured the US four times, from June 2009 to September 2010 and are planning to release their album, Abducted by the 80's later this year, when they will tour again.
Earlier in 2010, Nick also invested in a new company MagNet, an e-commerce solution that is starting to spectacularly expand and he has been asked to run the music division of a sister company to Magnet, called Awaken, which is expected to launch 2011